AN ABERGELE eyebrow specialist is the only North Wales beautician in the running for a coveted award - despite only 18 months in the industry.

Microblade artist Lorna Roythorne Du-Ross, owner of RDR Microblading, Beauty & Holistic Therapies at Cutting Edge in Rhyl, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Welsh Hair and Beauty awards for ‘Semi-Permanent Makeup Specialist of the Year’.

Also representing North Wales in other categories are a host of businesses from Prestatyn and Rhyl, including last year’s Most Wanted Salon winner Kimberley Roberts Hair and Beauty and this year’s nominee, Rejuva of Rhuddlan.

Mrs Roythorne Du-Ross,26, said: “Being the only North Wales salon to be a finalist in my category feels like a real achievement.I was and still am elated.

“I trained in microblading just over 18 months a go and have been working so hard at my craft to perfect what I do and give amazing brow transformations.

“I think I’m still in shock to be honest, but the most amazing thing about it is this stage is voted for by clients and so it means the world that my lovely clients took the time to vote for me.”

A relatively new trend in the beauty industry, microblading is a form of semi-permanent makeup that uses an ultra fine blade to create hair like strokes to shape the eyebrows.Miss Roythorne Du-Ross also provides more traditional beauty therapies.

Mrs Roythorne Du-Ross added:”The world of semi-permanent makeup is huge at the moment but being recognised in our area feels amazing.

“I think it’s great to the local community to have up and coming businesses recognised for what they do, especially in such specialised fields. People already travel over an hour to see me for their eyebrows and so I hope that they also bring additional business to other local businesses. “

The Welsh Hair and Beauty awards is currently still due to go ahead in Cardiff on Sunday, May 10.